title: Clinical manifestations in individuals with recent diagnosis of HTLV type I infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is known to cause HTLV-associated myelopathy (HAM)/tropical spastic paraparesis and adult T cell leukemia. A growing body of evidence links HTLV-1 infection with an increasing spectrum of disease, including uveitis, periodontal disease, arthropathy, sicca syndrome, and neurologic deficits.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Despite recent findings, the natural history of HTLV-1 infection remains poorly defined. This study was designed to better characterize initial clinical and neurological findings in individuals diagnosed with HTLV-1 infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study of 71 individuals recently diagnosed with HTLV-1 and 71 uninfected age- and sex-matched blood donors in Salvador, Brazil. Subjects were administered a standardized questionnaire and underwent physical exam.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HTLV-1 infected subjects were significantly more likely than controls to report complaints of hand and foot numbness (OR=5.3; 95% CI: 1.8-15.3; p=0.002 and OR=4.0; 95% CI: 1.3-12; p=0.013 respectively), difficulty running (OR=4.0; 95% CI: 1.1-14.2; p=0.032), nocturia (OR=5.0; 95% CI: 1.1-22.8; p=0.038), arthralgia (OR=3.3; 95% CI: 1.4-7.7; p=0.006), and photophobia (OR=3.3; 95% CI: 1.4-7.7; p=0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neurologic, ocular and rheumatologic complaints may be the first manifestations of HTLV-1 infection. Therefore, all patients presenting with initial diagnosis should be rigorously screened for these symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Imunologia do Hospital Universitário Prof. Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Shelene K W
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Poetker
authors.forename: Aurelia F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.forename: Silvana P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Giozza
authors.forename: Andre L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Muniz
authors.forename: Marina F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Caskey
authors.forename: Edgar M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Marshall J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Glesby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001177:Arthropathy, Neurogenic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D001938:Brazil; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology